Sheet-feeding mechanism for embossing-presses.



A. BREDENBERG. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED DIS-0110,1905.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A BREDENBERG. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING PRESSES. APPLICATION FILED DBG.30,1905. 1,053,566. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY iin f'irovements and I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- ALFRED BREDENBERG, 0F CHAMPLAIN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE SHERIDAN IRON WORKS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, AND ONE-HALF T0 '1. W. & C. B. SHERIDAN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. .18, 1913.

Application filed December 30, 1905. Serial No. 293,912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I ALFRED Bnnonxenae, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Champlain, Clinton county, New York, have-invented certain ncw and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Mechanisms for Embdssingdresses, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The invention relates to embossing presses and more particularly to devices for feeding and registering sheets in presses having a pair of flat embossing surfaces.

Objects of the invention are, to provide means for rapidly and acci'irately feeding such sheets to the press, registering the sheets for the impression, removing the sheets 'and storing them after impression; to provide sheet handling mechanism which Will supply new sheets without injury to the sheets or to the cmbossing surfaces; to provide registering means of a simple and reliable type for positioning the sheets while carried b the sheet conveyer, and providing said mec ianisms of such form and arrangement that they will perform their various functions without interference with or injury to each other. These objects of invention, together withother objects of invention, Willin part be obvious and in part more fully appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts, combinations herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of an embossing press; Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Fig. 3 is a detail rear elevation of the registering mechanism; and Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the gripper mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith an embossing press is shown having a pair of flat embossing members, one carryinga die and the other a counter die. As illustrated, one of said embossing members,indicated by the reference. nmneral 1, is mounted in a fixed relation upon a supporting frame 2. The other embossing member, indicated by the reference numeral 3, is shown movable toward and from the fixed embossing member 1. The said movable embossing member 3 is provided with guid ing and actuating means which may be of any suitable or convenient form,and asillustrated comprise rods 4 and side frames 4 fixed on said rods suitably arranged and disposed for guiding the said member 3 as it moves toward and away fron in'ipression. The actuating means for the said movable embossing member 2:3 is shown as comprising two sets of double toggle levers 5, the said levers being actuated from a suitable source of power. In the illustrated arrangement, the link (3 connects the said lovers to cause them to move in unison. The ends of one set of the toggle levers 5 are shown as fixed to a shaft 7 which has also fixed thereto an arm 8, the free end of which is in operative relation with a :mu 9, said cam being arranged to rotate with a shaft 10. Driving means for the said shaft are provided of any suitable character and may be connected thereto in any desired or convenient manner. The said shaft is shown as having one or more gear wheels l1 which may be connected to the source of power.

Sheet conveying means for supplying sheets to the embossing couple and for removing them after impression are provided, said conveying means being constructed and arranged to move in a path intermediate the faces of the cmbossin r members and also ,to move into substantially the same plane with the said members when they are at impression. In the cmlmdiment of the sheet couveying means herewith illustrated the conveyor is shown adapted to co-act with guiding means which serve to guide the conveyer inils said path intermediate the faces of the embossing members, the said guiding means being movable with the movable cmbossing member as the embossing nn-mbei moves to impression. The conveyor and tin sheet which is held in position for impression between the embossing members move with the guiding means substantially into the plane of the faces of the nmbossing members when they are at impression. The sheet conveyor is herewith illustrated as comprising flexible endless chains 12 carrying at suitable points thereon grippers 13. "he guiding means for guiding the conveyer in its path intern'iediate the faces of the embossing members is shown as a frame let provided with suitable ways 15 in which the chains 12 of the conveyor travel. The frame let is shown mounted to slide upon the rods at, and when the embossing members are out of impression, the said frame rests on the side frames 4. and with the conveyer occupies a position intermediate the planes of the faces of the said embossing members. In the present embodiment the guiding means and conveyer are moved into the plane of the embossing faces when they are at impression by giving the said frame 14 a movement transversely to the faces of the said embossing couple along the rods 4. To effect this movement the movable embossing member 3 is shown provided with lugs 16 positioned to contact with the frame 14 during the movement of the member 3 toward impression. Adjusting means may be provided, if desired, so that the sheet carried by the conveyor in impression position may be brought accurately into the plane of the embossing faces during impression, and such adjusting means are herein shown as comprising set screws 17 carried by the said lugs 16.

Suitable mechanisms for supporting and moving the conveyor are provided and a form thereof is herewith illustrated. \Vith these ends in view, the frame 1-} is shown as having its transverse members in the form of rods or shafts 18 and 19 which serve as supports for sets of sprocket wheels 20 and 21 which engage the chains 12 of the conveyer. The upper stretches of the chains 12 are supported on pairs of sprockets 20, 21 mounted on rods on shafts 18 and 19. sprocket wheels 21 are also utilized for the purpose of moving the conveyer along its path. Means are provided for imparting to the sprocket wheels 21 an intermittent rotary motion in one direction and as herein shown said means comprise a pinion 22 fixed to the shaft 19 and meshing'wilh a pivoted geared sector 23. Means for oscillating the said sector 23 are provided and a form of such means is herein shown as comprising a link 24.- pivotally connecting the sector to levers 25 fulcrumed on a rod 26, one of said levers carrying a friction roll 2? engaging a cam' groove 28 in one of the gear wheels 11. Means are provided for causing the pinion 22 and sector 23 to intermesh as they come into engagement. and as herein shown the said means comprise a star wheel 29 carried upon the Su'llfi. 10 the points of which are adapted to register between a facet-30 and pin 81 upon the sec tor 23.

The extent of the movement of the con- The 'tion. just veyer may be regulated and modified, if-de sired, and to effect tlns 1n the present embodiment, means are provided for changing the radial distance of the connecting po nt;

of the link '24 to the sector 23. The form of such means shown comprises a longitudinal slot 32 in the sector in which the pivoted pin 38 maybe moved backward and forward and fixed at any point as desired. The

link 24 is also shown as providedwitha turn- -buckle 34: which serves to change the relation of the sector 23 to the lever 25 and thus to alter or regulate the position of the conveyer grippers relatively to the embossing members. By means of the devices just described the movement of the conveyer may be adjusted and modified for sheets of vary ing sizes and for varying the position ofthe impression upon sheets of particular size.

Means are provided for supplying sheets to the conveyer and the illustrated form of such means is designed for feeding sheets to the conveyor while the said embossing mem hers are at impression. The chains 12 of'the conveyer are shown as being connected at convenient intervals by cross bars 35 which in addition to serving as alining means for the chains also constitute a part of the gripper-mechanism. Pivoted adjacent tothe said bars are members 36 which are impelled by springs 37 to normally contact with the faces'of the bars Suitable means are provided for opening the grippers to receive a sheet, which may be fed the eto in any. i

opening mechanism comprises a v pin 38 adjustably mounted in a bracket 39 fixed to the embossing member 1, and so p0- sitioned that as the frame 14 moves upwardly with the movable embossing member 3 the free end of the member 36 contacts with the face 40 carried by'the said pin, thus acting to open the gripper against its sprin and to hold it open until the member 3 begins to move away from impression. A feed table for the sheets is provided and is herein shown as fixed to the embossing member 3 and is designated by the reference numeral 41.

hleaus for registering the sheet are provided, said registering means being adapted to eo-art with the conveyer and being also adapted to bring the conveyer and the sheet to position during the upward movement of the .conveyer just as the embossing couple moves into impression. The said'registerinn; means is also shown as being provided with devices for bringing the conveyer and sheet positively and accurately into posibefore the impression. In the illustrated --embodiment ,the registering mechanism is shown as comprising fingers 4-2 pivoted to a slide 42 suitably guided on the fixed embossing member 1 and hemg yieldingly held in their engagingor opera-,

tive position by suitable means such as springs 43. This pivotal connection of the fingers 42 and the springs enables the said fingers which constitute the active part of the registering means to yield in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyer. The member 42 is provided with vertical edges and with a beveled end portion in order that as it moves into engagement with the gripper 13 or the chains 12 on which the gripper is mounted it will, by means of its beveled end, impart to said gripper or chain any slight movement necessary to bring the parts into operative relation. Means for positively moving the member 42 and the gripper engaged thereby into registerin position are provided and a form,of suc1 means is herein shown as comprising connections between the said member and the shaft 10. As illustrated, the connections for each member 42 include a link 44 connected to an arm 45 fixed to a shaft 46. Also fixed on the shaft 46 is an arm 47 connected by a link 48 to a bell crank lever 49, the free end of said bell crank lever being in operative relation to a cam 50 carried upon the shaft 10. The said connections are held in operative relation by suitable means such as a spring 51 actin on an arm 52 fixed to the said shaft 46. 3y means of the said connections the member 42, through the actuation of the cam 50, is positively brought to. registering position just prior to the impression. As the members 42 operate to put the portion of the conveyer extending between said members and the feed table under tension, said portion ofthe conveyor being sup ported by the frame 14, the gripper 13 atthe feeding point will also be brought accurately to a predetermined or registering position so that the sheet may be accurately positioned therein. By reason of the vertical edges of the members 42 the grippers will be accurately retained in their adjusted positions during the vertical movement of the conveyor caused by the movement of the embossing member 3 toward the member 1 to make the impression.

Suitable delivery means are provided, and according to many aspects of the invention the said delivery means may be of any desired character. As herein shown, the path of the couveyer after leaving the embossing couple is inclined upwardly, and beneath the said upwardly inclined stretch 15 lo- .catcd an inclined receiving table Sitter the purpose of receiving the sheets as they are released by the conveyor. Suitably located with reference to the said receiving table 53 are means for opening the grippers 13 so that the released sheet may fall upon the said table. As herein illustrated, the said gripper opening mechanism comprises a.cam" 54 which is adapted to co-act with the end of the pivoted member 36. The said member 5-1 is fixed on the stationary rod 19 but ma be shifted on the rod for the opening movement of the member 36.

The manner of operation of the mechanism hereinbet'ore described is as follows: A sheet being in position on the conveyer between the embossing members the memher 3 advances upwardly as the toggles 5 are actuated through the arm 8 and the cam 9. After the member 3 has advanced upwardly through a portion of its travel, the lugs 16 come in contact with the frame 1% which then moves forward with the mem- .ber 3 toward impression carrying with it the conveyer and the sheet into the plane of impression. As the convcyer moves upwardly an idle gripper member 13 is in position with the free ends oi the pivoted members 36 directly beneath the pins-38, which serve in the manner hcreinbe't'ore specified to oscillate the members 36 about their pivots and to open the gripper. A sheet is fed into the said gripper and as the member 3 recedes from impression the pivoted members 36 close upon the sheet as the said members move away from the pins 38. The frame H- recedcs with the embossing member 3 during a part of the travel of the latter and comes to rest on the side frames at at an intermediate position with rci'crcnceto the purpose ot adjusting the amount of positions of thc embossing members when away from impression. This guideframc It thus serves as means for separating the sheet convcving means and embossing membcrs transversely to the planes of the latter at'tcr impression, the sidc frames 4; serving as 11 ans for separating the guide member and the movable embossing member during the latter part of the downward movement of the latter. As the frame 1 1- movcs downwardly the pinion 233, which passed out of engagement with the sector 23 as the member 3 moved to impression, approaches the sector 23, the star wheel 29 co-acting with the face 30 and the pin 31 serving to cause the pnion and sector to intcrmcsh. The sector, is then oscillated about its pivot by its actuating mechanism, including the lever 25 and the cam groove 28, to rotate the pinion which through the medium of the' sprockets 21 give a forward feed to the convcycand the impressed shoot is fed forward over the delivery mechanism, and is released from its gripper by the cam and drops upon the receiving table 53. The sheet. on the feed table 41 held by the grippers is moved forward into position between the embossing members. It will be understood that the sector oscillates in the reverse direction while out of mesh with the pinion 522. As. the member 3 advances to impression, as above described, the grip per 13 comes into contact with the beveled 'they cmne -into contact improperly. The

end of the registering members 42 and by the action of the beveled end and the upward movement ofthe conveyer, the conveyer and registering members are brought into proper operative relation. The conveyer is then given a supplementary movement so that the grippers at both theembossing position and the feeding position are positively brought to position by means of the action offits cam 50 upon the lever 49 and the intermediate connections of the member 4-2.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a press has been provided having sheet handling means adapted to take a sheet at a point near the embossing couple and during the impression when the grippers and feed table are at rest; which are adapted to carry the sheets between the members of the embossing couple in a. path which is clear of the face of both embossing mem bers, hus obviating any danger of inter fcrence of those parts with each other and consequent-damage to the dies or the conveyer. The recession of the conveyer from the face of each of the dies befjre the outward feed of the sheet also efiects the re veyer and having a positive actuating means permits of accurate and exact posltlonlng of the sheet without danger of defacement thereof, and the yielding action against its spring precludes any injury to either the registcringmlovic'e or the conveyer in case delivery devices providcda re also of a simple and compact structure and of certain action.

Other objects and advantages, in addition to those herein specified are realized by the invent-ion.

The invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the particular constructions N shown, nor to any particularconstructions by which it has been or may be carried into efi'ect, as many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

hat I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An emlmssing press including in combination, a pair of fiat embossing members, means for effecting a relative movement of said members to and away from impression, means for conveying sheets between said membcrs,,a1ul means for effecting a movement of said conveying means transversely with relation to the plane of each of said members after impression, to separate the sheets from both said members.

2. An embossing press including in combination, a pair of fiat embossing members, means for effecting a relative movement of said members to and away from impression, and means for conveying sheets between said embossing members, said sheet conveying means being constructed and arranged to move in a path intermediate the faces of said respective embossing members and also to move into substantially the same plane with said embossing. members when they are at impression, and means for separating said sheet conveying means and said embossing members transversely to the planes of the latter after impression.

3. An embossing press including in combination, a-pair of fiat embossing members, means for effecting a relative movement of said members to and away from impression, a sheet conveyer, means for moving said sheet con-veyer in a path intermediate the faces of said-embossing members to: supply a sheet thereto prior to impression and for removing the sheet after impression, and means for moving said sheet conveyer so as to bring the sheet substantially into the plane of the embossing members during the impression and for restoring it to. a position intermediate the said faces after they have moved away from impression.

4. An embossing press including in combination, a pair of embossing members, means for effecting a relative movement of said members into and away. from impression, a sheet conveyer, means for guiding the saidconveyer in a pathintermediatethe faces of the embossing members when they are away from impression, means for causing said guiding means to move with one of the embossing members when the said embossing member moves to impression, and means for separating said guiding means and said last mentioned embossing member when the latter moves away from impression.

5. An embossing press including in combination, a pair of flat embossing members, means for effecting a relative movement of said members, means for conveying sheets between said members,.- and means rendered operative by said first mentioned means for effecting a movement of said conveying means other than its conveying movement and tansversely with relation to the plane of each of said members when the latter are moved to and fromimpression.

6. An embossing press including in com bination, a stationary embossing member, a movable embossing member, a, sheet conveyer, a member adapted to uide the coriveycr intermediately betweenthe faces of the embossing members when away from impression, means for causing the guiding member to move with the movable embossing member to impression, and means for separating the guiding member and the movable embossing member after impression.

7. An embossing press including in com bination, a stationary embossing member, a movable embossing member, a sheet conveyer, a member for guiding said conveyer in a path intermediate and sul'istantially parallel to the faces of the embossing members' when away from impression. guides for said guiding member, connections between the guiding member and the movable embossing member so that the guiding member, the conveyer and the said embossing member will move to impression together, and means for separating the guiding member and the movable embossing member after impression. I

S. An embossing press including in combination, a stationary embossing member, a

-movable embossing member, a flexible endless sheet conveyer, a member adapted to guide the conveyor intermediately between the faces of the embossing members when away from impression, means for causing the guiding member to move with the movable embossing member to impression, and means for causing the movable impression member to move imlependently of'the guiding member at'ter impression.

it. An embossing press including in combination, a stationary embossing .men'iber, a movable embossing member, a flexible endless sheet conveyer, a member for said con veyer constructed and arranged to guide said conveyer to move in a path intermediate and substantially parallel to the faces of the embossing members when away from ,impression, guides for said guiding member, and connections between the guiding member and the movable embossing member so that they will move to impression together and will be separated after impression.

10. An embossing press including in combination, a stationary embossing member. a movable embossing member, means for moving said member to and away from impression, a flexible endless sheet conveyer. a guide member for said conveyer located intermediately of said embossing members, guides for said guide member, connections between said guide member and said movable embossing member for causing them to move to impression together. means tor separating said members atter impression, and means for moving said conveyer relatively to its guiding member when away from impression.

11. An embossing press including in combination, a pair of flat embossing members, an endless conveyer having a plurality of sheet gripping means'for receiving sheets and conveying them between the said embossing members, intermittently ope 'ating actuating means for the sheet conveyer, and means acting on the conveyer adjacent to the gripping means located at the embossing position for giving the conveyer a supplemental movement in the forward direction to accurately position said sheet gripping means at both the receiving and embossing. positions.

1.2. An embossing press including in combination, a pair of flat embossing members, an endless sheet conveyer provided with grippers for receiving sheets and conveying them between said embossing members, intermittently operating actuating means for the conveyer, means acting on the conveyer adjacent to the grippers lo ated at the embossing position for giving the grippers a supplemental movement to accurately position them at both'the receiving and embossing positions.

13. An embossing press including in' combination, a pair of flat embossing members, an endless conveyer having a plurality of grippers for receiving sheets and conveying them between the said embossingmembers,

intermittently operating actuating means .to accurately position the grippers at both the receiving and embossing positions.

1 An embossing press including in combination, an embossing couple, a conveyer for feeding sheets to said couple, and means constructed and arranged to engage the conveyer by a relative movement transverse to its direction of travel and move it to register the sheet for the in'mression, said registering means being constructed and arranged to yield in a direction transverse to the direction of the travel of the conveyor.

15. An embossing press including in combination, an embossing couple, a conveyer for feeding sheets to said couple, means constructed and ar'anged to engage the conveyer by a relative movement transverse to its direction of travel and move it to register the sheet for the impression, said registering means being constructed and arranged to yield in a direction transverse to the direction of the travel of the conveyer, and means for positively actuating the registering means.

16. An embossing press including in com bination, an embossing couple, the members of which are relatively movable, a sheet conveyer movable with one of said members, yielding movable registering means carried by the other of said members for co-acting with the sheet conveyer to register the sheet for the impression, and means for positively actuating said registering means.

are, driving means for binding apinion mounted, on said grude 1?. An embossing press including in combination, a pair of flat embossing members, a traveling sheetconveyer, a pivoted spring pressed registering finger adapted to engage said conveyer, and means for positively actuating said finger to move said conveyor when a sheet is to be registered.

' 18, An embossing press including in combination, an embossing couple, the members w i of which are relatively movable, a sheet conveyer movable with. one of said members, and registering means carried by the other of said members for moving the sheet conveyor to register the sheet for the impression.

19. An embossing press including in combinati b p, a pair-0t flat embossing members, a flexible conveyer for carrying sheets between the said members, a movable guide member on which said conveyor is carried,

said flexible conveyer in- .member, an oscillating gear sector adapted (5,0 mesh with said pinion when it moves in one d1rect-ion, and means for movlng said as, guide to move said pinion out of mesh with ion, means for causing the said pinion and v sectorrfto be in engagement when the sector ,noves in one direction and to pass out of engagement when the sector moves in the other direction, and n'ieans for causing them ,to intermcsh jvhcn they pass into engage- ,nrent,

21. An embossing press including in com-- bination, a pair of fiat embossing members, an endless convcyer for carrying sheets between said men'ibers, driving means for said conveyer including a pinion, an oscillating sector meshing with said pinion during the stroke of the sector in one direction, means-for :paratin'g the sector and. pinion dining the stroke of the sector in the opposite direction, and actuating means for said An embossing press inchuling in comf n c i mg member, a. mow noon-1mg member, a sheet conveyor, means I said sheet conveyor I find to position the said conveyor inter niediately oi the faces of the said embossing members when they are away from imprcsn to separate the sheets from both said members, means for carrying the said guid ing means and the conveyor toward impression with the said movable embossing member, a feed table fixed with reference to said mi inahle embossing member, a gripper upon. said conveyor, and means for opening said gripper during the impression so that a sheet may be fed thereto from the said feed table. I

An embossing press including in combination, a fixed embossing member, a movable embossing member, a sheet-conveyor,

guiding means for said sheet conveyor adapted to position the said conveyer intermediately of the faces'ot' the said embossing members when-they are away from impression to separate the sheets from both said embossing members, means for carrying the said guiding means and the conveyer toward impression with the said movable embossing member, a feed table fixed with reference to said movable embossing member, a gripper upon said conveyer, and means carried by saidhxed embossing member for opening the said gripper. j l

2%. An embossing press including in combination, a fixed embossing member, a movable embossing member, a sheet conveyer, guiding means 'for said sheet conveyer adapted to position the said conveyer intermediately of the faces of the said embossing members when they are away from impression to separate the sheets. from both said embossing members, means for carrying the said guide and the conveyor toward impression with the said movable embossing member, a gripper upon said conveyor, an inclined. receiving table, and means for automatically opening the gripper when the sheet carried thereby is above the table.

25. An embossing press including in combination, a supporting frame, a fixed embossing member carried thereon, a flexible endless conveyor, guiding means for said conveyer movable upon said frame and constructed and adapted to guide said conveyor in a path intermediate the faces of said embossingmembers when away from impression, means for causing said guiding means to move with the said movable embossing member as it goes to impression, a feed table tired to said movable embossing member, a

gripper upon the said conveyor, means for holding the gripper open during the imprcssun, and means tor u'ioving said conveyor along'its path of travel. when said embossing nuanbers are away from lHIPI'OSSlOl).

26. An embossing press ii'ichuling in coinbination, a supporting frame, a fixed eml ossi.ng member carried thereon, a flexible endl x'ss conveyor, guiding means for said conveyor movable upon said frame andconstructed and adapted to guide said conveyor in a path intermediate the faces of said embossing members when away-from impression, means for causing said guiding means to move with the said movable embossing member as it goes to impression, a feed table fixed to said movable embossing member, a gripper upon the said conveyor, means for holding the gripper open during the impresin tesumuny whm'unl'. i hum Agnud m) name w this, spt-xiificntiun. in lhv prvsmu-u of mun inapnrs uu (:Olllzh'i', 21.11 two .ambsvribing \vilnvsr-rw H3001 villi; able}, and means for zmt ALFH 11 HH RUE) BERG.

3/ opening 11w gr ppm" when the Witnesses:

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